Involving Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Pediatric Allergy Management at ULSNE: Insights into Public Health Implications

Abstract Introduction Pediatric allergies present a complex challenge to public health systems, affecting both policy-making and clinical management. This study explores the management trends and challenges of pediatric allergies at the Unidade Local de Saúde do Nordeste (ULSNE) in Portugal, emphasizing its implications for refining healthcare practices over a seven-year period. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was performed, from children aged 0 to 18 who presented with allergic reactions at ULSNE’s emergency services between 2017 and 2023. The analysis concentrated on demographics, allergen types, reaction severity, and the management strategies deployed. Results The analysis revealed a wide range of allergens, from food to insect stings, with medication being the most prevalent triggers. Significant findings include observing severe allergic reactions across all age groups, highlighting the need for acute emergency interventions. The data underscores a critical demand for early diagnosis and tailored-made management plans to efficiently handle the diverse severity of allergic reactions observed. Conclusions This study demonstrates the complexity of managing pediatric allergies within ULSNE’s public health framework. Standardized, evidence-based management methods should be adopted to strengthen emergency response capabilities, as shown by the frequency of severe responses and the prevalence of various allergens. As an outcome, our results support a comprehensive, interdisciplinary strategy that includes medical personnel, educational institutions, and family involvement to create a supportive community that is supportive of both immediate care and long-term preventive measures. Subsequent efforts should give precedence to educational programs designed to increase consciousness and encourage preventive measures in community environments. Key messages • A rapid response is essential for healthcare systems to have fast, effective strategies ready for children’s severe allergic reactions. • Emphasizes a collective approach involving healthcare workers, schools, and families to prevent and manage children’s allergies, enhancing safety and awareness.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Healthcare Workers

<div class="WordSection1"><p><strong>Background:</strong> Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is prevalent among healthcare workers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symptoms include dryness, itchiness, and redness, with hands being the most affected. Risk factors include frequent hand washing, increased glove use, allergies, and lack of health and safety training. This review emphasizes the need for targeted prevention strategies and awareness programs.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, focusing on studies involving healthcare workers and OCD. Keywords included "occupational contact dermatitis," "contact dermatitis," "healthcare workers," and "risk factors for OCD." Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, including the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002).</p><p><strong>Result:</strong> The review included 2,706 healthcare workers. Hand dermatitis was the most common, affecting 22% of participants. Key risk factors were a personal history of allergies, frequent hand washing, high glove usage, and insufficient health and safety training.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This review identifies significant risk factors for OCD among healthcare workers, highlighting the need for interventions focused on reducing hand washing frequency, managing glove use, and improving health and safety training.</p></div>

Antecedent and persistent symptoms in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses: Insights from prospectively collected data in the BRACE trial

BackgroundSome individuals have a persistence of symptoms following both COVID-19 (post-acute COVID-19 syndrome; PACS) and other viral infections. This study used prospective data from an international trial to compare symptoms following COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses, identify factors associated with the risk of PACS, and explore symptom patterns before and after COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses. MethodsData from a multicentre randomised controlled trial (BRACE trial) involving healthcare workers across four countries were analysed. Symptom data were prospectively collected over 12 months, allowing detailed characterisation of symptom patterns. Participants with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 respiratory illness episodes were compared, focussing on symptom severity, duration (including PACS using NICE and WHO definitions), and pre-existing symptoms. FindingsParticipants with COVID-19 had significantly more severe illness compared to those with non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses (OR 7·4, 95%CI 5·6-9·7). Symptom duration meeting PACS definitions occurred in a higher proportion of COVID-19 cases than non-COVID-19 respiratory controls using both the NICE definition (2·5% vs 0·5%, OR 6·6, 95%CI 2·4-18·3) and the WHO definition (8·8% vs 3·7%, OR 2·5, 95%CI 1·4-4·3). When considering only participants with COVID-19, age (aOR 2·8, 95%CI 1·3-6·2), chronic respiratory disease (aOR 5·5, 95%CI 1·3-23·1), and pre-existing symptoms (aOR 3·0, 95%CI 1·4-6·3) were associated with an increased risk of developing PACS. Symptoms associated with PACS were also reported by participants in the months preceding their COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses (32% fatigue and muscle ache, 11% intermittent cough and shortness of breath). InterpretationHealthcare workers with COVID-19 experienced more severe and longer-lasting symptoms than those with non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses, with a higher proportion meeting the WHO or NICE definitions of PACS. Age, chronic respiratory disease, and pre-existing symptoms increased the risk of developing PACS following COVID-19. FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation [INV-017302] and others (see Acknowledgements).

The unsung heroes in the fight to end HIV: The role of nurses in Indonesia

HIV new cases are continuing to be reported in Indonesia. Although progress in HIV prevention and control has been made, Indonesia continues to face significant challenges in its fight against HIV. Continued efforts to expand treatment, reduce stigma, and strengthen prevention initiatives by involving health care workers and all stakeholders are essential to controlling the epidemic and improving the lives of those affected by HIV in the country. As a healthcare worker, nurses are central to the country's efforts to control and eventually end the HIV epidemic. Their roles are diverse and impactful, ranging from direct patient care to community outreach, education, and policy advocacy. As Indonesia continues to face challenges in its HIV response, the contributions of nurses will remain essential in overcoming these barriers and improving the lives of those affected by HIV.

Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department

Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department

Efficient Biomedical Waste Management- Need of the Time: A Lesson Learnt From COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Medical waste management (MWM) is of concern to the medical and general com-munity. Adequate knowledge regarding the management of healthcare waste is an important precursor to the synthesis of appropriate attitudes and practices of proper handling and disposal of medical waste by healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and housekeeping staff, regarding BMW management at a tertiary hospital in Telangana.Subjects and Method: This was a cross‑sectional study carried out at a tertiary health care center in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana, India. A stratified sampling technique was used to select the different cadre of healthcare providers from the hospital. A self‑administered questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of 300 study participants was prepared. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.Results: The majority of respondents were nursing staff 43% (143/300) followed by doctors, interns, sanitation workers, and lab technicians. About 3/4th of the HCWs had experience of more than 3 years. Only 65% of the doctors have correct knowledge of the colour coding of bags. About only 20% of the nursing staff practiced segregation of the waste on-site. The practice of hand washing was significantly higher among female HCWs (p = 0.010).Conclusion: This study showed that there is a clear lack of BMW management among the HCW especially class IV staff who handle a large. Thus ongoing training should be provided to HCWs on MWM, with more attention to knowledge of regulatory requirements, and involvement of HCWs in the development of MWM policies to enhance compliance.

Breastfeeding support among healthcare workers in Nigeria

BackgroundThe exclusive breastfeeding rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is abysmally low, and based on current trends, achieving the World Health Organization's (WHO) global nutrition goal of a 50% exclusive breastfeeding rate by 2025 will require an additional three decades.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers (HCWs) providing direct care to breastfeeding mothers in six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. HCWs were recruited using a stratified random sampling method, with a minimum sample size of 1537. Data was collected through validated-interviewer-administered-questionnaires.ResultsThe mean age of the 1294 respondents was 35.2 ± 10.0 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3. Overall, breastfeeding knowledge was subsufficient (41.2% across three domains), with specific knowledge gaps observed in breastfeeding for mothers with breast cancer (13.4%) and hepatitis B (59.4%). Only 18.9% correctly identified laid-back and cross-cradle breastfeeding positions. High school and tertiary education were significantly associated with sufficient breastfeeding knowledge (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.299–3.738; AOR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.234–3.205). Negative attitudes toward breastfeeding support were associated with being female (AOR: 1.5, 95% CI 1.094–1.957), while being a doctor was linked to the lowest instructional support (AOR: 0.3, 95% CI 0.118–0.661). Positive attitudes toward breastfeeding support were significantly associated with sufficient knowledge (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.833–3.161; p < 0.001), but not with technical knowledge (AOR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.629–0.993).ConclusionHealthcare workers showed subsufficient overall breastfeeding knowledge, especially regarding breastfeeding in maternal illnesses and positioning. Targeted programs are needed to improve breastfeeding support knowledge, instructional support and attitudes, especially among female HCWs and physicians.

Retaining Healing Hands: A Transnational Study on Job Retention Interventions for the Healthcare Workforce

Healthcare organizations worldwide face challenges in retaining their healthcare workforce, with individual and organizational factors influencing their intentions to leave. This study conducted eight online co-creation workshops and four Delphi sessions to gain qualitative and in-depth insights into job retention interventions, involving healthcare workers, hospital managers, and policymakers. A thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in multiple interventions that were clustered in four pre-defined themes: professional and personal support, education, financial incentives, and regulatory measures. Professional and personal support interventions included regular interprofessional team meetings, leadership training programs, self-scheduling and sabbaticals, support for administrative and non-clinical work, and the provision of psychological counselling. Educational interventions encompassed facilitating development opportunities, periodic evaluations, onboarding, mentorship programs, and peer support groups. Financial incentives included the provision of competitive salaries, adequate infrastructure, extra benefits, transport possibilities, and permanent employment contracts. Regulatory measures addressed the need for complementary legislation across various levels, fixed healthcare worker-to-patient ratio, and instruments to monitor workload. To optimize retention strategies, healthcare organizations should tailor these interventions to address the unique factors influencing their workforce’s intentions to leave within their specific context. The study concludes that combining personal and professional support, educational opportunities, financial incentives, and regulatory measures is necessary because there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Barriers and facilitators to viral hepatitis testing in Uzbekistan: scoping qualitative study among key stakeholders, healthcare workers, and the general population

IntroductionIn the World Health Organization European Region, an estimated 14 million people live with a chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV), and 12 million are affected by a hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Uzbekistan bears a major burden of HBV and has one of the highest HCV prevalence in the region. Following a presidential decree in May 2022, significant funds were allocated to the viral hepatitis (VH) elimination program in Uzbekistan. The program expands VH testing to reach 500,000 people annually during 2022–2025 as part of the VH elimination strategy that includes the provision of free testing and affordable treatment. Exploring the existing barriers and facilitators to VH testing is pivotal for informing these interventions.MethodsThis study uses a cross-sectional qualitative design to identify and explore the barriers and facilitators to VH testing among the general population in Uzbekistan. We collected data during October-November 2022 through semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants (KIs) and 7 focus group discussions with two target populations: the general population and healthcare workers (HCW) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.ResultsFollowing the capability-opportunity-motivation-behavior model (COM-B model) as a framework for the analysis, we identified major capability barriers to VH testing primarily linked to low health literacy and limited knowledge about VH types, symptoms, transmission, testing and treatment. Physical opportunity barriers included the time and financial costs associated with testing, diagnostics, and treatment. Sociocultural opportunity barriers involved anticipated negative reactions and stigmatization, particularly affecting women. Motivational barriers included a reluctance to be tested when asymptomatic and a general fear of receiving positive test results. The involvement of healthcare workers in promoting VH awareness and motivating the general population emerged as a facilitator.ConclusionsA multi-pronged approach is recommended to achieve VH testing goals among the general population, focusing on raising awareness and health literacy and creating an enabling environment that ensures easy accessibility and minimizing VH testing-associated costs.

Magnitude of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in health facilities of Low and Middle Income Countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Standard precautions are the minimum standard of infection control to prevent transmission of infectious agents, protect healthcare workers, patients, and visitors regardless of infection status. The consistent implementation of standard precautions is highly effective in reducing transmission of pathogens that cause HAIs. Despite their effectiveness, compliance, resources, patient behavior, and time constraints are some of the challenges that can arise when implementing standard precautions. The main objective of this meta-analysis was to show the pooled prevalence of safe standard precaution practices among healthcare workers in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted for this study. We systematically searched observational study articles from PubMed Central and Google Scholar. We included articles published any year and involving healthcare workers. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. The meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias (funnel plot, and Egger's tests) were conducted. A total of 46 articles were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in LMICs was 53%, with a 95% CI of (47, 59). These studies had a total sample size of 14061 with a minimum sample size of 17 and a maximum sample size of 2086. The majority of the studies (82.6%) were conducted in hospitals only (all kinds), and the remaining 17.4% were conducted in all health facilities, including hospitals. The pooled prevalence of standard precautions practices among healthcare workers in LMICs was suboptimal. The findings of this study can have substantial implication for healthcare practice and policy making by providing robust evidence with synthesized and pooled evidence from multiple studies. Registered on PROSPERO with record ID: CRD42023395129, on the 9th Feb. 2023.

Workplace interventions to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of healthcare settings.

Workplace interventions to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of healthcare settings.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Workers in Ekiti State, Nigeria on Prevention of Cervical Cancer

Purpose: The role of healthcare workers in cervical cancer prevention is pivotal because healthcare workers’ recommendations have been reported to be a key motivational factor for cervical cancer screening among women in Nigeria. Assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices on cervical cancer prevention is necessary. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional survey involving healthcare workers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A questionnaire designed for the study was used to obtain data about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the healthcare workers. Logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of practice and a p - value of less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Out of 188 participants that completed the study, 165(90.7%) had good knowledge about the prevention of cervical cancer while 24(13.2%) had good practice concerning the prevention of cervical cancer. positive attitude (Odds ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.14 - 1.35, p &lt; 0.001) increased the odds of good practice. Conclusion: There was no association between the knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and the practice of the healthcare workers. Further research is required to explore the incongruence between knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention and its practice.

Awareness, Perception, and Practice Regarding Needle-Stick Injury and Its Prevention Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.

Background Needle stick injuries caused by various sharp and other items like hypodermic needlesand intravenous cannulas are important occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCW). Preventing injuries is the most effective way to protect workers and requires good awareness and perceptions associated with practice on a daily basis. Therefore, we did a descriptive cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital to find the level of awareness, perception, and practice associated with needle stick injury and its prevention. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, in south India. 400 healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, technicians, and housekeeping staff) with more than one year of experience were randomly selected. An anonymous, self-reporting, semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Results are expressed in mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentages. Results Out of 400 respondents, 89% had good awareness about proper disposal practices. However,44% of the participants had the misbelief that recapping needles was recommended to prevent needle stick injury (NSI), and 30.5% practiced it, with the doctors being the majority. The majority (79.8%) knew that HIV, Hepatitis B & C are blood-borne pathogens that HCWs are most commonly exposed to through needle-stick injury (NSI). However, only 49% knew that Hepatitis B has the highest risk of transmission following a needle prick. 75% were aware of the correct Hepatitis B vaccination doses. Most of the healthcare workers (89.5%) claimed to be aware of the procedure and guidelines to be followed after a needle stick injury and 96% felt that they would report NSI immediately. Awareness regarding Hepatitis C prevention was comparatively poor, with only 47% having knowledge regarding the non-availability of Hepatitis C Vaccination and& 46% about the non-availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for Hepatitis C. Among the healthcare workers, 61% were worried about having needle stick injuries but 56.5% felt that their own personal safety is secondary to patient care. Among the HCWs, 91.3% believed that needle stick injuries can be prevented. Most of the participants (93.5%) ensure that others around them take extra precautions while handling sharp/ needles. The majority, i.e. 88%, utilized a designated container for disposal of sharp items, whileonly 53% of respondents utilized a needle cutter or shredder. 85% of HCWs had attended specific training programs on the usage of safe devices/sharps in the preceding one-year period and 72.8% had completed the vaccination against Hepatitis B. Conclusion Awareness regarding needle stick injury and its prevention is patchy and not adequate across different sections of healthcare workers. Perceptions regarding needle stick injury and its prevention revealed an overall positive attitude. Practices related to needle stick injury and its prevention seem to be reasonably good except when related to recapping and waiting to dispose of until the completion of the session. Training sessions need to be tailored for specific participant groups and a 'one size fits all' philosophy cannot be followed.

Healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on smoking cessation intervention in the Northern Cape.

Clinicians are crucial in encouraging smokers to quit through behavioural or pharmacological smoking cessation interventions. Smokers quit better with professional help. The level of healthcare providers' (HCPs) knowledge, attitudes and counselling skills related to effective smoking cessation support in the study area remains uncertain. The study aimed to determine HCPs' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on smoking cessation intervention strategies in the Sol Plaatje district, Northern Cape. Sol Plaatje's 13 district municipality clinics, Kimberley, Northern Cape. A descriptive, cross-sectional analytical study involving healthcare workers in the above setting. A total of 165 HCPs, including medical officers, professional nurses, enrolled nurses and assistant-enrolled nurses working in primary healthcare clinics, were invited to participate in the study, with 156 completing the questionnaires. About 53.9% had no knowledge of South African tobacco smoking cessation guidelines, while 87.2% knew the importance of counselling patients about smoking and its impact on quitting. The majority of them did not know the medicines recommended for tobacco treatment in South Africa. About 89.7% expressed that smoking cessation counselling is an important part of their jobs. However, less than half indicated that they make follow-up arrangements for those attempting to quit. The study revealed gaps in KAP regarding smoking cessation among the respondents, necessitating the need for continuing education on the existing smoking cessation guidelines among these HCPs. The results of this study will help to improve smoking cessation intervention knowledge among health providers.

Challenges associated with the availability, accessibility, and use of antivenoms for treating snakebite envenoming in Ghana: A MaxDiff experiment design

Successful snakebite envenoming (SBE) treatment requires safe, effective, and quality-assured antivenom products specifically tailored to combat endemic venomous snake species. This study aims to identify the challenges associated with the availability, accessibility, and use of antivenoms for treating SBE. The data for this study were obtained from a cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers from two districts (namely Afram Plains North and Afram Plains South) in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Through the MaxDiff design methodology, we quantify the challenges associated with the availability, accessibility, and use of antivenoms. Responses from a simple random sample of 203 healthcare workers were included in this study. Participants identified the high cost of antivenoms as the most challenging factor that limits the availability, accessibility, and use of antivenoms for treating SBE. Other important challenges were the lack of access to effective antivenoms in remote areas when needed and the increased use of unorthodox and harmful practices, followed by resort to unorthodox and harmful practices and the lack of effective antivenoms to address envenoming from local species in some instances. However, poor outcomes from using substandard antivenoms, stock-outs, inadequate number of manufacturers, and the resort to substandard, cheap, and harmful antivenoms were traded off. Also, poor utilization of antivenoms, suboptimal utilization of antivenoms (low quality, under-dose), use of ineffective, substandard antivenoms, and flooding of the market with products that have not been evaluated thoroughly were underscored. Our findings provide essential data to guide discussions on barriers to the availability, accessibility, and use of antivenoms for treating SBE to improve the supply of antivenoms, enhance the effectiveness of snakebite treatment, and improve patient care quality in Ghana. Multi-component strategies are needed to address the challenges identified, such as intensified advocacy, ongoing education and community engagement, healthcare worker training, and leveraging institutional and governance structures.

Factors Associated with the Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Among Adolescent Girls Aged 14 Old in Hai District of Kilimanjaro Region in Northern Tanzania.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination is a key primary prevention method against cervical cancer which is given to young girls before onset of sexual activity. In Tanzania, cervical cancer is the most frequent occurring cancer among women and is the leading cause of cancer mortality. The HPV Vaccination programme was rolled-out in Tanzania in 2018 for adolescent girls aged 9-14 years to receive two doses at a six-months interval, with an annual vaccine uptake of 46.1%. In 2019, the uptake of the HPV vaccine was only 64%, whereas the national coverage target is 75%. This study aimed at assessing the determinants of HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to August 2020 among 14-year-old adolescent girls in four selected secondary schools, including two government-owned and two private-owned, within Hai district. Close-ended questionnaire interviews were conducted with the adolescent girls in the study and data analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Odds ratio was used to assess the association between several factors and HPV vaccination. A total of 301 adolescent girls aged 14 years consented to the study. HPV vaccination uptake was 65%. More than three-fifths (n=119, 60.7%) reported having received the two required doses. Knowledge of HPV (OR 5.68; 95% CI, 0.72 to 44.96; P=.01) and HPV vaccine (OR 20.11; 95% CI, 10.88 to 37.99); P =.01) contributed significantly to HPV vaccine uptake among the adolescent girls in the study. More than one-third (n=105, 34.9%,) of the participants, were not vaccinated, the main reasons adduced for not being vaccinated include lack of proper information about the HPV vaccine (60.0%), fear of side effects (14%) and parental refusal (11%). HPV vaccination uptake was 65%. Lack of proper information to both the children and parents about the safety of the vaccine hinders its uptake. More effort should be made for clear and comprehensible dissemination of information especially to the community stakeholders mainly parents, community and religious leaders, about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine in order to considerably increase vaccination coverage among adolescent girls. Likewise, involvement of healthcare workers and policymakers in educating people about cervical cancer prevention measures can ensure successful implementation of HPV vaccination. There is need to conduct an indepth qualitative study to explore further people's perceptions and attitudes towards HPV.

A Monitored Self-isolation Model for Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients to Prevent the Family-based Transmission

Background: Systematic effort and sustainable systems are highly suggested to avoid new family clusters of COVID-19 in a community. It was challenging that self-isolation should be monitored and evaluated to prevent the transmission. Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a monitored self-isolation model, named the “Reni-Model,” for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to prevent family-based transmission. Methods: A mixed-methods approach with an embedded design was employed. The Reni-Model incorporated a moderating factor of patient empowerment through education, participatory discussions, and training. The model was developed through an analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation process. The study population was COVID-19 patients, their family members, healthcare workers, and the community in Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, in 2022. The respondent characteristics correlated to the self-isolation model's success are gender, education, occupation, and income. Results: Data implied several determinant factors, including patient knowledge, attitudes, actions, perceptions, family support, healthcare worker involvement, and collective behaviour, significantly influencing the success of monitored self-isolation. The Reni-Model demonstrated significant effectiveness in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 within families. Conclusion: This study emphasises the importance of prioritising and taking concrete actions to implement monitored self-isolation, drawing valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saudi healthcare workers perception of the national transformation program (NTP)

ObjectivesThis research aims to explore healthcare workers knowledge and information about the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020 and their readiness to apply the transformation agenda. Study designA cross-sectional quantitative study. MethodsA questionnaire was developed and distributed randomly through social media and shared with various healthcare workers from around the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results202 health care workers responding from different cities and regions in the kingdom the study focused on the two main objectives, the healthcare workers knowledge about NTP and their readiness to change, and it has been shown that both objectives were positively related, the more the knowledge about NTP the more ready healthcare workers are to adopt and participate in this change. ConclusionIt was concluded that there is major importance of involving healthcare workers in the planning and development of this change to allow for an easy, supported change to the sector.

An Outbreak of Campylobacter Jejuni Involving Healthcare Workers Detected by COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Symptom Surveillance

An Outbreak of <i>Campylobacter Jejuni</i> Involving Healthcare Workers Detected by COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Symptom Surveillance

0289 A PICTURE ON THE SLEEP OF THE PORTUGUESE HEALTH SYSTEM: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF A WORK IN PROGRESS

Abstract Introduction Sleep difficulties are commonly referred by health care workers that can affect quality of life and productivity, both in patients and healthy individuals. This study firstly aimed to evaluate sleep quality in distinct groups of health care workers as well as the impact of shift work and health related habits on the sleep of such professionals. Methods This prospective, cross sectional, observational study involved health care workers (Physicians, Residents, Nurse Staff, Psychologists and Therapeutic and Diagnostic Technicians - TDT) from the Portuguese Health System (public or private) aged from 25 and 65 years old. A General Health Survey was followed by Standard validated sleep questionnaires for assessment of sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index - ISI), risk of obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-BANG), and excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale - ESS). Results From the pretended pool of 425 health care workers to whom questionnaires where sent, 160 (131: 81.9% females) responded (37.7% of response rate). From those, 30% of those professionals were Residents, 30.6% were TDT, 21.9% Physicians, 10.6% Nurses, and 6.9% Psychologists. 46.5% assumed itself with a morning-type profile whereas 39.5% were intermedium and 14% evening-type persons. From the global sample, 62.5% had poor sleep quality with 37.5% in the insomnia threshold whereas 14.4% presented with either moderate or severe forms of insomnia. Regarding the risk for sleep disordered breathing, 6.5% where at high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea - OSA, and 15.6% complained from mild to moderately forms of excessive sleepiness (ESS&amp;gt;10). In this sample, psychologists achieved the better sleep quality scores while nurses had the poorest scores for the same parameter. Conclusion This preliminary findings on the sleep of the portuguese health care workers, suggest that such professionals experience a poor sleep quality in general with a prevalence of major sleep disorders similar to the general population. Although the majority seemed to denie a significant degree of daytime sleepiness, those within a shift work regimen are likely to perform worse. Support (if any)